Why did the American colonist want to expand control into the Ohio valley in the mid 1700s?
There were several reasons why American colonists wanted to expand control into the Ohio valley in the mid-1700s:
1. Economic Opportunities: The Ohio valley was rich in natural resources, including fertile land for farming, forests for logging, and abundant fur-bearing animals. Americans sought to exploit these resources for economic gain and to provide new opportunities for settlement and trade.
2. Westward Expansion: The desire for westward expansion was deeply ingrained in the American psyche. The Ohio valley represented a significant frontier for colonists looking to establish new communities and expand their territory.
3. Strategic Importance: The Ohio River served as a vital transportation route, connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River. Gaining control of this region would provide access to critical trade routes and help secure western borders against potential threats from European powers, particularly France and England, who also had interests in the area.
4. Political Influence: Expanding into the Ohio valley meant expanding the colonies' political influence and control over a larger territory. It would allow colonists to establish new colonial governments and exert their own authority, rather than being subject to the control and governance of distant European powers.
5. Defense and Security: Controlling the Ohio valley would provide a buffer against potential Native American raids and attacks, which were frequent in the area. Establishing settlements and forts there would provide a stronger defense line for the existing colonies against Native American tribes, particularly the powerful and influential Iroquois Confederacy.
These factors combined to create a strong desire among American colonists to expand their control into the Ohio valley during the mid-1700s.